Remember When Writing Was Fun?

I might've written something like this before...

Anyway, I've hit this wall.  This wall of just not caring about my craft and it totally sucks.

Writing used to be my passion. I mean, I used to have so many ideas and just such energy that I filled notebooks up with scrawling. Seriously, everywhere I went, I spent 90% of the time writing. Restaurant: wrote on the back of paper napkins. Church: Wrote all over the bulletin. School: well...notebooks. I even wrote fanfiction.

But now...

Now it's like another job. I have contests I want to enter. Samples I'm preparing as samples for Agents. Articles that I write for culturemass.com. I'm trying to build a web presence, a publishing history, and maybe even make a little money along the way (because isn't that part of why I got an MFA?).

So, in other words, now there's all this ....pressure. And it's all from me! I'm putting all this pressure on me and my craft. That it has to work out. That it has to be done. And just thinking about it all is exhausting. Then, I sit down to write and nothing comes out.

...Which freaks me out even more.

I know what it all comes from.

I'm not writing for me anymore. I'm writing for my career. It's become work, and it's less fun. Which is also scary and freaks me out. (I think this is why authors do writing retreats, but I can't afford a writing retreat so what's a girl to do? Push through it.)

This big question here is: HOW DO I MAKE IT FUN AGAIN?

The answer: *shrug* I don't know.

My plan for now is to just power through it. That's all I can do. It'll be fun again one day. I'm not going to give up on that day.

Agents: Why Do Writers Need Them?

As mentioned in my last post, I am looking for finding an agent so I can get my book published. But agents aren't editors. They don't work for publishing companies. Then, why do I need one?

Well, the short answer is that because they work for me.

Okay, that's a super short answer. An agent is the support staff for a writer. One thing that I've heard from countless lectures I've gone to with editor/agent speakers, is that the publishing business would crumble without the writer. Therefore, everything is pretty much built upon what the writer produces. Publishers want you to produce something awesome that will sell. Editors, and mostly agents, are the ones that help the author do this.

This is the breakdown of what an agent does as far as I know:

• They support the writer
• Help the writer manage their career
• Manage the rights to the books
• Be the writer's advocate
• Act as a bridge between you and the editor 

The agents are going to be the star quarterback for team Writer. A legit agent doesn't get paid until you, the writer, does. They take a small percentage, but for what they do it seems worth it. They're the ones who help you with revision. They're the ones with the connections in the publishing world. They make sure they you get the most you can for your work.

Finding the right agent is like dating. You want to make sure that you click with one another. So, when you're looking for an agent, make sure you do your research. This is some great advice that one of my professors passed on to me this summer. Literary Rambles is a great resource. They've got links to various agents and have collections of interviews and articles with the agent listed online.

Lastly, two things to keep in mind.

1. Most publishing houses won't look at manuscripts if a writer doesn't have an agent
2. Even with an agent, there is a chance that your book won't be picked up for publication

So that's what I got. Agents = good. As writers we need them, and they need us. When I finally get an agent, cookies will be sent.

In a little while, I'll post about the querying process (the process of trying to get an agent to take you on), so until then, have a good one!

Life After Grad School

*waves sheepishly from slumped down position in chair*

Hello. I know it's been FOREVER since I posted here. I haven't forgotten about my blog. Nope. I've just been super busy. Not a fantastic excuse, but when you're working on a thesis it's what happens. 

Well, I am totally done with my thesis! 

Some of you may have forgotten or are new here and may be asking, "What was your thesis?"

It was (and it still exists but now as my WIP) a YA novel that is a little bit urban fantasy. I say a little bit because it's not so much urban, but its not high fantasy. However, that is a discussion for another day! (Along with writing a YA novel, I also had to write a 12-15 page paper that went with it. That got me doing a good bit of research on the whole "urban fantasy" category).

Okay, so my thesis is done. What have I been doing since then?

Trying to figure life out. And reading whatever I want! 

So.... trying to figure life out is not super fun. I mean, I love life. I love my husband and where we are in our lives right now, but I have this thesis and MFA and I need to do something with it. That means trying to figure life (as a future author) out. 

I am starting the querying process and trying to find an agent. Why do I need an agent? Why not just straight to an editor? Well, the market keeps changing and it's good to have someone on your team. I'll write a whole blog post about why you need an agent and my querying process. 

Now, reading whatever I want.

Holy crap. I haven't been able to do that since... I don't know, like, middle school. I've always gone to fairly competitive schools and have always had a pretty heavy reading list handed out to me at the beginning of each semester or summer.

But now. Now I don't. 

It's been amazing! Right, so there's a phrase "happy as a kid in a candy store." That's me. It's not candy though. It's books. If you'd like to keep up with my reviews and whatnot you should check out my articles on CultureMass. Also, I have a goodreads widget that keeps track of what books I'm reading this year (just incase you're dying to know....)

So. Now that I have free time I'm planning on posting a good bit more. I promise. For real this time.   

What I Learned Today

It's been rainy today.

Any yesterday.

And for like the last couple of weeks.

BUT - I had today off and I needed to get work done on the thesis. So after running some errands, I came to my local library. I love this place. It's just... amazing.

Anyway, I learned several things today. I thought I'd share...

1. I learned how swords were made/ forged way back in the day. Surprise, they were made by swordsmiths that had to mix up their own steel alloys and whatnot. How intense is that? From the essay I read, it was all very complicated. 
2. I discovered a plethora of webpages on how to make a sword at home. None of them were helpful for what I was researching for thesis, but it was intriguing to know that my next DIY project could me making myself a sword. 
3. This:
   
   4. ANNNND that I can checkout as many CDs and video games from my library. From what I understand I can check out 10 DVDs at a time, as many CDs, games, and books as I want. This is dangerous knowledge but AWESOME since I'm trying to save money. No I don't need to download Florence + The Machine's new CD from iTunes - I can check it out! Holla!
   
   
   5. Also, turns out I get a lot more homework done on rainy days and when I force myself to go the the library where my bird and the TV can't tempt me. 
   
   6. Back to swords and smart things: I now know what steel is made of and the best type to make a sword out of. You want carbon steel. That stainless steel is fine for a blade under 12" but for anything longer than that you want carbon steel (which is made up of iron and carbon). Ha! Look at me, being all scientific. Also, the steel needs to be heat treated so it's not too brittle. 
   
   Hmmm.... I wonder what I'll learn about tomorrow
   
   

Book Review: Paper Valentine

I did it! I'm so very proud of myself. I read one of my books on my Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Debuts 2013 and Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Want to Read in 2013 lists. 

And now, now I'm going to review it.

Why I do book reviews, I really have no idea. They aren't really anything in-depth. If I was an outsider reading it, I'm not sure it would sway me one way or the other to read the actual book... but here I go anyway.

So, Paper Valentine. I had pretty high hopes for it. It promised super natural elements (Hannah the main character is being haunted by her dead best friend), romance, and suspense (someone is going around killing girls - of course our narrator is going to get mixed up in it). 

Buuuut, I found this book oddly disappointing. The little blurb on the book jacket made it sound so fun. There was even an intense heat wave and some weird disease going around killing birds -- that could totally be awesome if it lead back into the overall plot. But it didn't. So, I feel like I was set up to be disappointed. I mean, why put that in the hook if it really doesn't relate back to the plot at all? Sure, it sets the scene. But it's not like the weather is influencing the killer. 

And then there's Hannah's best friend that's a ghost. I mean, it was weird, and the relationship that the two of them had (when Lillian was alive) was pretty complicated, but Lillian's death doesn't really relate back to the killer at all. (Not much of a spoiler - you find out pretty early on what happened to her). And, I don't know, that just rubbed me the wrong way. I mean, the way that she died, and her death, are important to the development of Hannah's character, but not the driving force behind her growth. Again, I felt like I was set up a bit.

What I did really like about this book though was how it was written. The main reason that I kept reading it was to observe the character dynamics (they are very similar to the ones I'm trying to produce in my thesis/novel) and just the flow of her writing. It was pretty amazing, in describing lover boy Finny Boone's hair we get a memory of the day he first died it that also correspondes with a big moment in Hannah's life. Also, in this memory, we get character insight into more than one main character. So, I found the way that she interwove her backstory and details and whatnot all together pretty fascinating. 

Also, she did a really great job of incorporating all the senses in her scenes. Another thing that I'm trying to work on - thus I noticed it. She did it so well, that I think, only if you were looking for it, you would notice that in some cases she weaves all 5 senses onto one page without throwing it in your face. 

So... yes, that was a bit better than I've given before... I think. Anyway, I don't think I would recommend this book. I mean, the aspects that I enjoyed in it were all craft related and mostly things I wanted to do better that she did well. If I hadn't been looking for those things and found them in this book, I would've returned it to the library before I finished it. Just saying. 

However, this is all a matter of personal taste. Lot's of people on GoodReads loved it - so you can check out reviews there, but this wasn't a favorite of mine. You win some, you loose some.

BUT! Please, if you've read the book and disagree or agree let me know. Or, you know, other thoughts are welcome. Leave a comment and if you hit me up with a link to you're blog I'll try and comment back. 

BWAAAAAA!

Okay, so this is me freaking out a bit.

I really wanted to keep up with the Top Ten Tuesday. I really did. It's been super fun and easy to do several posts at once in advance... but I just can't commit to it anymore.

I'm sorry to say, but I really just can't commit to my blog right now. Here's a list of what on my plate....

• Thesis (research, reading models, planning, writing, thinking...)
• Reading
• This writing project I'm doing with some Peace Core Volunteers where I write a short story (in English) based on the town/village that these children live in in Ethiopia
• The 12-15 page paper that goes along with the novel portion of my thesis
• Housework/ being a non-slacker partner to Husband (who has been working 12 hour shifts on top of school and is just plain worn out) and trying to keep some order in the house to balance the chaos of his schedule
• My job
• Having a life
• Oh... and sleep

That's a lot on one plate. And look, my blog isn't even on it. Oh, and I'm going to be helping my buddy Cameron and some others out with a new entertainment blog that launches in March. The only reason that that isn't stressing me out is that it's not a whole blog/project that is on my shoulders alone. I get to make up lists and whatnot. On this blog I feel that I have a bit of a difference audience. I know that some of you enjoy the personal aspects of the blog and I do to...

I also enjoy writing about the books I've been reading. But that's not happening.

Last night I did finish Paper Valentine one of the books on my 2013 Top Ten that's being released this year. It was...okay. I stuck with it because a lot of the relationships in the book were similar to ones in mine and I wanted to see how the author went about showing these relationships and not just telling. 

Okay... whew. I would say I feel better but it's late, I need to unload the dishwasher and write one more chapter before tomorrow and all I want to do is sleep.

WHEW! 

WHERE IS THE CAFFEINE DRIP WHEN I NEED ONE?    

Libraries as Crack Houses

Right, so in one of my super early posts I talked about how books can be like crack to writers (and just general book-lovers). For real, if it wasn't for my husband and having to be a partner in a grown-up relationship, I'd most likely blow all my grocery money on books. I can never have enough. It's a problem. I think they need to get some support groups up in here.

For example: I have  about 185 books on my shelf (this includes reference books and the like but it doesn't include all the books I still have at my parent's house) and I haven't read about 75 of them. It's even worse at my parents house. Like, how is this possible? I have all these books I bought wanting to read... then I don't get to them and just go buy more. WHY? IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE!

But crack addiction doesn't really make sense to me either. So, there's that.

Now, I'm circling back to my central thesis here.

Libraries are freaking awesome. A whole building full of books and movies and audio books that you can borrow for FREE. FREE! Okay, not free... taxes and all that. But whatever, I don't have to pay for each book.

But libraries, while super awesome, are really bad for bookish people. Here's a chance to just get MORE books that you intend on reading. It's like letting a former alcoholic walk through an ABC store. It's so tempting. And all those books you own that you haven't read, they'll just gather more dust. And you'll renew these books until you've run out of renewals and then probably get some late fees.    

It's just dangerous.

And so wonderfully delightful.

(Note: I want to make clear that I really do think real addiction is not something to joke about. Yes, I"ve trivialized it a bit in this post, but I really don't think being addicted to books is anywhere near as damaging as other addictions. There, I feel better...)

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Debuts I'm Looking Forward To

So, I decided that I wanted to try and at least update my blog every Tuesday (with my Top Ten post) and then on Thursdays with something more personal.

That didn't happen this past week... So, forgive me. I promise that my blog will not just be top ten posts, but anyway...

Well, here we are again. Another week and another Ten Top to go with it! Top Ten Tuesdays are brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish. Click the link to learn more about Top Ten Tuesdays.

So, this week is Top Ten Debutes that I'm looking forward to. For me, this was a really fun one to research. Usually, I don't know what books are coming out until I walk past the "New Releases" shelf at the bookstore. So, for this, I had to do some investigating. I found a list of 2013 books at goodreads via Google. 

And now, on with the list!





1) Divergent #3 - by Veronica Roth
No cover or other info released yet
Publish Date: Fall 2013

2) Awaken - Meg Cabot 

The third in her Abandon Trilogy.

What goodreads has to say: Death has her in his clutches. She doesn’t want him to let go.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera knew by accepting the love of John Hayden, she’d be forced to live forever in the one place she’s always dreaded most: the Underworld. The sacrifice seemed worth it, though, because it meant she could be with the boy she loves.

But now her happiness — and safety — are threatened, all because the Furies have discovered that John has broken one of their strictest rules: He revived a human soul.

If the balance between life and death isn’t fixed, both the Underworld and Pierce’s home back on earth will be wiped away. But there’s only one way to restore order. Someone has to die.
Publish Date: May 7, 2013

3) Scarlet - Marrisa Meyer

The second in the Lunar Chronicles
(Note: I haven't read the first one yet, but have heard great things. I can't wait to read it and this one!)

What goodreads has to say: Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.
Publish Date: February 5, 2013 


4) Raven Cycle Book 2 - Maggie Stiefvater 
September 2013
No cover or other info released yet

5) Shards and Ashes - editor Melissa Marr

What goodreads has to say: Gripping original stories of dystopian worlds from nine New York Times bestselling authors, edited by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong

The world is gone, destroyed by human, ecological, or supernatural causes. Survivors dodge chemical warfare and cruel gods; they travel the reaches of space and inhabit underground caverns. Their enemies are disease, corrupt corporations, and one another; their resources are few, and their courage is tested.

Powerful original dystopian tales from nine bestselling authors offer bleak insight, prophetic visions, and precious glimmers of light among the shards and ashes of a ruined world.

Stories from:
Kelley Armstrong
Rachel Caine
Kami Garcia
Nancy Holder
Melissa Marr
Beth Revis
Veronica Roth
Carrie Ryan
Margaret Stohl
Publish Date: February 19, 2013 

6) The Coldest Girl in Cold Town - Holly Black
Expected Publish Date: September 1, 2013
No other info released yet.

7) Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff  

What goodreads has to say: "The city of Ludlow is gripped by the hottest July on record. The asphalt is melting, the birds are dying, petty crime is on the rise, and someone in Hannah Wagnor’s peaceful suburban community is killing girls.

For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one. Her best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders? Hannah’s just trying to understand why her friend self-destructed, and where she fits now that Lillian isn’t there to save her a place among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone, the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness.

With the entire city in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost girls and horrifying secrets. She realizes that only by confronting the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life—and it’s up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again"

Publish Date: Jan 8, 2013

8) Taken by Erin Bowman

What goodreads has to say: "There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?"

Publish Date: April 16, 2013

9) The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson 

What goodreads has to say - "When madness stalks the streets of London, no one is safe…

There’s a creepy new terror haunting modern-day London. Fresh from defeating a Jack the Ripper killer, Rory must put her new-found hunting skills to the test before all hell breaks loose…

But enemies are not always who you expect them to be and crazy times call for crazy solutions. A thrilling teen mystery." 

Publish Date: Feb 26, 2013

10) Splintered - A. G. Howard

What goodreads has to say: This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

Publish Date: January 1, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Bookish Goals for 2013

Drumroll please!

Here we have it! Another Top Ten Tuesday!

This one was a bit easier for me to come up with. Why was trying to think of 10 books I wanted to read next year was slightly more difficult than I thought - I have no idea.

But here! This one, Top Ten Bookish Goals for 2013. I don't just love bookish things. I live for them.

So here we go!

1) Finish my Thesis: Yes. This is totally a bookish goal. My thesis is a YA (or "New Adult" - I'll post on this later) novel. So finishing this up will be awesome.

2) Submit my finished novel to literary agents (or editors that I've made connections with). This one, pretty straight forward...

3) Actually finishing my goodreads 2013 goal of reading 35 books by the end of the year. Last year, I wanted to read 50. I barely made half of that. This year, I'm setting my goal to be about ten over what I actually did in 2012. Baby steps here people. Baby steps.

4) Revise that long Harry Potter paper I wrote last year and finally submit it to various journals to get it published. Personally, I think that this might be a super far-fetched goal. Well, the getting it published bit is a bit far fetched... However, my advisor for the paper (who has been the editor of several collections of critical essays) kept suggesting it to me this past summer - so I'm thinking there's a slim hope...

5) Read things that our outside of my preferred genre. So - really, getting out of the urban fantasy genre and trying contemporary fiction, science fiction, historical fiction, biography, etc...

6) Write some short stories. I haven't really worked on anything apart from my thesis in...hell, I don't know how long. So yes.

7) Use the library more often. I don't need to buy all the books I want to read. I can just wait for them to come into the library. Also, my library (and probably yours) lets you check out eBooks... so seize that book.

8) Devote more time in my day to reading and writing than watching T.V. - again, that's pretty straightforward.

9) Try writing some in some different genres. Break out of that YA fantasy genre (again) - try picture book or contemporary fiction.

10) Read all those books that I've bought but never gotten to...

And boom! There we go. Top Ten Bookish Goals - or I suppose my Top Ten New Years Resolutions. Whatever you want to call it.

So, what about you? What bookish goals do you have for the next year? Let me know!

Comfort Zones

You know that thing when you were little, the whole "if I can't see you, you can't see me" deal? I don't know about you all, but I don't think I ever out grew that instinct.

When ever the weight of life is particularly heavy (bills, thesis deadlines, work, growing pains, etc.) I tend to do this thing. I go into my closet, turn off all the lights, and lay on the floor in the dark. There isn't a world outside that dark little room. Sure, you might see a girl laying in a pile of dirty clothes in the dark, but I know better. I know that she's picking up the little pieces. (And yes, go ahead and make your in the closet jokes - that's not what this is about...)

I've found that things tend to sort themselves out in my closet. Plot lines fall into place. Characters' motives become clear. I make a plan of attack for laundry. Then, when I come out, the world doesn't seem so tough anymore.

Everyone needs a comfort zone. I don't think it really has to be a particular place either. I used to like to sit on steps. I know that's weird. But when I needed to think, I'd go find a step in my college dorm, or outside next to my parent's deck, even in the house. I don't know what it is about a flight os steps, but before the closet I was a fan of steps. 

But maybe that's just me? 
What about you? Is there a place you like to think? Read? Write? Hide from everyone?

A New Year

Well, I think husband and I are cursed for New Years Eves. Our first one as a married couple he had to work at 4 am the next day so we went to bed at like, 10. And then this year I was sick with a cold. BUT, we have many more to look forward to and it gave me time to think.

I was going to discuss my New Year's Resolutions... but now I'm not. You may ask, why? Well, come back tuesday and you'll find out :-) I wanted to do goals rather than resolutions. I think they're pretty much the same thing, but the word "goal" just seems less daunting.

I do want to talk about why I'm really excited about this year. Kind of like what I expect out of 2013.

Before I go into what I'm looking forward to this year, I think you might need some background. I have been in school, like my whole life. The summer I graduated from college - about a month and a half later I began my graduate program. Then I think I've only taken one real semester off while in the program. So, think about it: That's grad school pretty much year round. I love my program, but here's one of the things I'm looking forward to....

Not being in school. This idea just blows my mind. 

Other things... I'll have a completed manuscript done that I can start sending out to literary agencies. Woah. Like, this isn't just a "some day dream" anymore. It's like, ahh - yeah, mid-May. Again. Mind blown.

Also, no required reading. So that's new. Um, time that would be spent on thesis and school can now be devoted to other things. Like cooking and running. Hanging out with husband more and doing lots of fun things. And writing other things that aren't my thesis.

I say all of this, but I know, come September... I'll start to get antsy again. I'll begin thinking of research papers to write. I'll look into teaching programs or other degrees and everyone will call me crazy, but I can't go that long without school. I love to learn (yes, nerd and proud of it! What's wrong with that? Nothing.) and I love to hone my skills. I love to improve my mind. I think it's a genetic thing. My grandfather was a doctor and studied psychology and like, *fingerwiggle* other medical stuff. General doctor stuff *ends fingerwiggle* and he kept attending classes until he was like 75. Sure, he could pay for it (and that's my biggest restraint but I"ll just work harder). 

But no, getting off that tangent - I'm just really excited to be that person I've been working so long to be. I will have a Master's degree. I'll be a Master of something. How kick-ass is that? Very. 

So, I'm super excited about where I'll be at the end of 2013. What about you? Any big finish lines for you this year? Any goals?  

Top Ten Tuesday : Books I Want to Read in 2013

A new year and a new outlook on my blog... hopefully. Really, the outlook is that I just promise to post more. I got the BEST comment on Christmas Eve and it's totally got me reenergized! 

So, I am totally copying my blogger buddy LHughes and joining in on this Top Ten Tuesday feature that is being hosted by The Broke and The Bookish (click here for more info). And check out their post for today's Top Ten here.

Pretty much they've got topics planed out and each tuesday you can post on that topic. Genius idea for those of us who are super busy and want to stock pile some posts (shakes fist at thesis)...

Anyway, this week is the top ten books I resolve to read in 2013. Fantastic topic. This will be the first summer in like 13 years when I haven't had a reading list all planned out for me thanks so school. Bawhahaha!

 I'm not really going to include books that will be released - mostly books I want to read but haven't yet. 

So, in no real order... 

Drum roll please!

1) The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Plot: "Holmes and Watson are faced with their most terrifying case yet. The legend of the devil-beast that haunts the moors around the Baskerville families home warns the descendants of that ancient clan never to venture out in those dark hours when the power of evil is exalted. Now, the most recent Baskerville, Sir Charles, is dead and the footprints of a giant hound have been found near his body. Will the new heir meet the same fate?" - goodreads

Reason: Well, lots of reasons. I bought a copy of it for practically nothing a few years ago and it's just been hanging out on my bookshelf - all sad and lonely. I really feel like I should make a dent in all those books I've bought but haven't had a chance to read yet. I could do a top ten list from just those alone... but I'm not. OKAY! Back on topic... Another reason is that I adore the TV shows ("Sherlock" and "Elementary") and really feel like I need to check out the source material. PLUS, I used to listen to Sherlock Holmes stories on tap when I was a kid and feel like I owe it to Sir Doyle to read it for real.

2) The Scorpio Races (along with Lament and Ballad) by Maggie Stiefvater 

Plot: "Some race to win. Others race to survive.

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. 

Some riders live.

Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them. 
Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn't given her much of a choice. So she enters the competition - the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

As she did in her bestselling Shiver trilogy, author Maggie Stiefvater takes us to the breaking point, where both love and life meet their greatest obstacles, and only the strong of heart can survive. The Scorpio Races is an unforgettable reading experience." - amazon.com

Reason: I heard her speak not long ago and totally fell in love with her. She's great. She combines so many aspects of different writers that I admire and has them all rolled up into one package. I pretty much want to read anything she's ever written. Also, her blog is fantastic - check it out here. But a better reason, I love the way she takes real folktales and whatnot and retells them in her own way/ is influenced. This one involves a death race on fantastical horses and love. How could you not want to read it?

3) Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

Plot: "Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.

This is not that world.

Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?" - goodreads

Reason: I adored the first book in this series(?). Taylor has amazing descriptions and just really did a fantastic job of world building. I loved the characters and the plot. She really left me hanging at the end of her first one, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and just craving more!     

4) Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff (Jan 8, 2013) 

Polt: "The city of Ludlow is gripped by the hottest July on record. The asphalt is melting, the birds are dying, petty crime is on the rise, and someone in Hannah Wagnor’s peaceful suburban community is killing girls.

For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one. Her best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders? Hannah’s just trying to understand why her friend self-destructed, and where she fits now that Lillian isn’t there to save her a place among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone, the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness.

With the entire city in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost girls and horrifying secrets. She realizes that only by confronting the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life—and it’s up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again" - goodreads

Reason: While I might not have picked this book up on my own, I loved her breakout novel, The Replacement. This book isn't due to come out until 2013, so it's not one that's just waiting for me on my bookshelf. This sounds crazy, I know, but I'm very intrigued by novels that deal with serial killers. This one does, someone is killing girls during the hottest summer a town has ever seen. And ghosts? Awesome. To me, it seems very promising. Dark with a hint of romance.  

5) Taken by Erin Bowman (April 16, 2013)

Plot: "There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?" - goodreads

Reason: Another book that won't come out until 2013 and another one I might not have picked up on my own. This one seems to fall into the whole dystopian thing. A forbidden wall? Cryptic notes that turn the world upside down? Things not being what they seem? This book promises to have a lot of tension and action. 

6) Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Plot: "Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . 

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future." - goodreads

Reason: My friend LHughes loves it so much, and her blog is going to be mentioned in the paperback's acknowledgements section. All the reason I need...

7) The Last Dragon Slayer by Jasper Fforde

Plot: "In the good old days, magic was indispensable—it could both save a kingdom and clear a clogged drain. But now magic is fading: drain cleaner is cheaper than a spell, and magic carpets are used for pizza delivery. Fifteen-year-old foundling Jennifer Strange runs Kazam, an employment agency for magicians—but it’s hard to stay in business when magic is drying up. And then the visions start, predicting the death of the world’s last dragon at the hands of an unnamed Dragonslayer. If the visions are true, everything will change for Kazam—and for Jennifer. Because something is coming. Something known as . . . Big Magic." - amazon.com

Reason: I've read some of Fforde's adult books before and loved them. He does a great job creating a believable alternate reality than what we have. So yes, very good at world building and whatnot. Also, how can you turn down something that puts dragon slaying in a modern context? Well, I suppose you could hate dragons... but I'm very excited to see how he constructs this new world and how he translates to YA. 

8) Kenny and the Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi

Plot: "What do you do when your new best buddy has been designated a scourge by the community and marked for imminent extermination? Just ask Kenny Rabbit. When the simple folks in the sleepy little village of Roundbrook catch wind that there's a dragon running loose in the countryside, they get the wrong idea and the stage is set for a fight to the death. So it's up to Kenny to give his neighbors front-row seats to one of the best-known battles in history -- the legendary showdown between St. George and the dragon -- without losing a friend in the fray." - goodreads

Reason: It has a bunny and a dragon that are best friends. If you know anything about me you know I love bunnies. If you don't know me, then well, how can you turn down a retelling of Sir George and the dragon that involves a bunny that rides a bicycle? You just can't.

9) The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson (release date: Feb 26, 2013)

Plot: "When madness stalks the streets of London, no one is safe…

There’s a creepy new terror haunting modern-day London. Fresh from defeating a Jack the Ripper killer, Rory must put her new-found hunting skills to the test before all hell breaks loose…

But enemies are not always who you expect them to be and crazy times call for crazy solutions. A thrilling teen mystery." - goodreads

Reason: I loved the first book in this series and can't wait to revisit these characters and the streets of London. Her characters are so real and the last book dealt with the whole crazy serial killer thing... Freaky and awesome. What more could you want?

10) Anything by Maggie Stiefvater (or more specifically the next book in The Raven Boys cycle), the third Divergent book by Veronica Roth, or anything else by a favorite author and I don't know when the release date is...

Reason: Because! 

Better reason: I've been so hooked by the first books that I want more! I just don't know when they come out...

So there we have it! My top(ish) 10 books to read next year! I'm excited. Game plan, made. Boom!

Stay tuned for next week's Top Ten!